Excavating-bucket.



J. FLYNN.

EXCAVATING BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.29. 1913.

ll ,22 1 MM Patented Apr. 3, 1917..

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES: 'INVENTOR 1" I James 1 7 2271 CDw b-o BY flomeps 1. FLYNN;

EXCAVATING BUCKET. APPLICATION FILED NOV-29.198.

1 ,QQI ,041 Patnted Apr. 3, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR 7077265 F/ynn.

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JAMES FLYNN, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

EXGAVATING-BUCKET.

1,221Mldf.

Application filed November 29, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES FLYNN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Excavating-Bucket, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an excavating bucket and embodies, more particularly, improvements on the well-known clam-shell type of bucket. Among these improvements may be mentioned, first, guide mechanism cooperating with the grab sections of the bucket for the purpose of insuring uniformity of movement of these sections; second, dumping means operable by the fall rope whereby the busket is automatically opened when the weight thereof is shifted on to said fall rope; third, mechanism cooperating with the dumping means for insuring the closing of the bucket prior to its elevation; fourth, tension mechanism accelerating the operation of the bucket dumping means; and,

fifth, a casing inclosing the hoisting mechanism whereby it is protected against dirt and injury during its operation.

Features of the invention, other than those specified, will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction shown therein is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention. V

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a bucket embodying the present invention, said bucket being shown in its open or dumping position.

Fig. 2 is a like view of the bucket shown in Fig. 1, illustrating the same in its closed position.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the bucket in its closed position, and

Fig. 4 is a transverse section portion of the lifting means, showing the manner in which a casing, which I employ, serves toprotect said means against injury.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the supporting frame of the bucket, which supporting frame extends longitudinally of the length of the bucket and is provided, at either end thereof, with depending portions a. At the lower end of each portion a, are

through a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3, 1917.. Serial No. 803,706.

laterally projecting arms a a to which arms are pivoted, as at 0 0, the grab sections C of the bucket. borough of Brooklyn, 7

Mounted on the depending portions a of the frame, and adapted for sliding movement thereon, are guide blocks B, to either side of which are pivoted connecting links 6, the opposite ends of which are pivoted to the respective grab sections of the bucket at points exteriorly of the points of pivoting of said sections and, preferably, near the outer edges thereof. Thus, when one of said grab sections is swung on its pivots, the guide blocks B and links 6 cooperate therewith to swing the other grab section in uniformity with the movement of the first.

The primary means for causing the bucket sections to swing into the dumped position illustrated in Fig. 1 is embodied in the lifting links D, which are pivoted to ears 61 positioned on the respective grab sections at, preferably, that portion thereof most remote from the points of pivoting, so that said links will have the maximum capacity for causing said sections to swing on their points of pivoting 0. The opposite ends of each of the links D engage with the respective ends of a bail E, which extends longitudinally over the bucket and to the center of which, as at 6, may be attached the fall rope, (not shown). When it is desired to dump the bucket, z'. 6., oscillate the grab sections thereof into the position illustrated in Fig. 1, the Weight of the bucket is imposed upon the fall rope and said weight is thus transmitted, by the links D, to the respective grab sections of the bucket at points thereof remote from the points of pivoting of said sections. When this state of facts is prevalent, it is manifest that the weight of the component parts of the bucket will be actuated by gravity to swing the grab sections into open position, and throughout such opening, the guide blocks B and links Z2 will cooperate with the respective grab sections to insure uniformity of movement thereof and to arrest the movement of said sections when they have been opened to their predetermined requisite extent.

Having described the manner and means whereby the bucket may be dumped, the mechanism whereby said bucket may be closed and lifted will next be described.

On that portion of the frame A which extends longitudinally over the bucket is secured a depending bracket F, in which is po- When it is sitioneda pair of spaced sheaves G; positioned on the bail E, one intermediate each pair of lifting links D, is a hanger I'I, each movement by suitable means, such as cotter spins f! points adjacent to the ends of the bucket,

Attached to the tie rod F and at are chains or cables 9, each of which cables extends upwardly over the blocks h and thence downwardly around the respective sheaves G, and are attached at their other ends to a ring g, to Which is adapted to be secured the lifting rope of the derrick. A casing I is provided, which extends around the tie rod F and telescopes into the bracket F, for entirely incasing the sheaves G and 'a'portion of the cables 9, for the purpose of precluding the material on which the bucket may be operating from coming into contact with the moving parts and damaging the same.

desired to close and lift the bucket, when in the opened or dumped position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, a tension is applied through thelifting rope of the derrick on the ring g, whereupon such tension is transmitted to the hoisting chains or cables 9 g. This tension operates toturn the sheaves G G, whereby the cables 9 exert a strong downward pull upon the blocks h, with the result that said blocks are borne down, carrying with them the bail E to which the upper ends of the connecting links 'D are pivoted. This downward pressure on the links D causes the grab sections G to be swung on their pointsof pivoting 0, into the closed position illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The

bucket having been closed as described, a

continued upward pull on the lifting rope 'of the bucket will cause the bucket to be elevated, it being manifest that, at all times when the bucket is off the ground, the weight thereof will be carried, to a large extent, by

theblocks h, which produce a downward thrust on the lifting links D. It'will thus be' clear that'all chances of the grab sections to open in mid-air are precluded, and'that 1 the adj acent scraping edges of said sections willbe maintained, "at all times, in tight edge-abutting grelation. When it is desired to'jdump the bucket, after the same has been lifted as just described, it is only necessary to shift the weight from the lifting rope on to the'fall rope, whereuponithe thrust on the linksD will be changed to apull which will cause the grab sectionsto be swung "on their points of pivoting in the manner hereinbefore stated. V

Inthe preferred form of the invention illustrated, I find the use of the blocks h of inent with one another.

great advantage, in that their employment serves to practically double the efficiency of the chains or cables G, in closing the bucket, because of the increased leverage gained by said blocks. However, I do not desire to restrict myself to this particular form illustrated, as I have, through experiment, found that the blocks h, are not absolutely requisite, since the end of the cable may be fastened directly to the hangers 11, instead of to the tie rod F, and thence pass directly to the sheaves G.

In order to make the operation of the bucket more smooth and regular, I, preferably, employ a tension member or spring J, which is secured at one end to the bail e, and at its other end to one of the grab sections, exterior of the points of pivoting thereof. This spring serves as an accelerator, it being clear that, when the bucket is being lifted and there is no tension on the fall rope, the spring will operate to swing the bail out of the way ofthe hoisting cables g, 9, but, when the weight of the bucket is shifted to the fall rope, attached to the bail e, the spring will be put under tension as the bail isswung into vertical position, whereby the tension of said spring will augment or accelerate the action of the grab sections in opening under the pull of the connecting links D. This tension member J, is, however, not absolutely essential, and I do not, therefore, desire to be restricted to a bucket embodying the same.

It will be manifest, from the foregoing description, that a bucket embodying my invention is of extreme practical value, and overcomes one of themost universal difliculties among the buckets of the prior art, in that said'bucketcannot'be lifted in supposedly closed position until the grab sections are absolutely closed and in engage- Thus, in digging gravel, or the like, the downward pressure on the links D serves to force the grab sections into the material and, consequently,

' the bucket is entirely filled and closed, prior to its elevation.

The bucket of the present invention embodies many novel and highly advantageous features'not heretofore employed in bucket construction, and it will be clear that some of these features may be employed in the constructing of a bucket without necessarily employing all.

5 Having thus fully described the invention, what-I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Inran excavating bucket, the combination of a plurality ofgrab sections, a relatively stationary frame to which said sections are directly pivoted, means for closing the sections-and lifting the bucket, a member mounted for sliding movement on the frame, link connections between said sliding member and the grab sections, whereby uniform movement of said sections is secured, a bail, to which a fall rope is adapted to be secured, positioned above the frame and separate therefrom, and links connecting each of the sections to the bail.

2. In an excavating bucket, the combination of a supporting frame, a plurality of grab sections pivoted thereto, a fall rope, a bail to which the fall rope is adapted to be secured, links connecting said bail with the respective sections of the bucket at points exterior of the points of pivoting of said sections, and accelerating means connected with the bail and with one of the grab sections for facilitating the dumping of the bucket.

3. In an excavating bucket, the combination of a supporting frame, a plurality of grab sections pivoted thereto, a fall rope, a bail to which the fall rope is adapted to be secured, links connecting said bail with the respective sections of the bucket at points exterior of the points of pivoting of said sections, and a spring secured at one end to the bail and at its other end to one of the grab sections, for the purpose of facilitating the dumping of the bucket.

l. An excavating bucket embodying a rigid, relatively stationary frame provided with two substantially parallel legs, each having at its lower end oppositely extending arms, grab sections pivoted near the outer ends of said arms, whereby said sections are adapted for oscillating movement on axes exterior of the longitudinal medial line of the frame, a separate guide block mounted for sliding movement on each of the parallel legs of the frame, a link pivoted near the end of each block and also pivoted to one grab section for assuring uniform movement of the sections, and means for closing and lifting the bucket, in combination with a' bail above the frame and separate therefrom, and link connections between the bail and each section exterior of the points of pivot ing of the sections, whereby, when the bail is elevated by a fall rope secured thereto, the weight of the bucket is imposed upon the link for the purpose of opening the grab sections.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES FLYNN.

Witnesses:

CORNELIUS ZABRISKIE, JAs. H. GRIFFIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

